Emirates has agreed a deal to buy six Airbus A380s that it has on lease from Qatar's Lesha Bank, securing the airline’s long-term ownership of the airframes.
The bank, acting through an investment structure on behalf of Lesha Aviation Fund, has already transferred ownership of two of these aircraft to the Dubai-based carrier. The remaining four will be handed over in stages through April 2028, as their respective leases end.
Aviation Week's Fleet Discovery database shows the six aircraft are all between 10 and 12 years old. Emirates Airline President Tim Clark recently told Aviation Week's Window Seat Podcast that he sees the A380 having up to 24 or 25 years in service with the airline and says the widebody could remain in its fleet until as late as 2041.
Jonathan Skirrow, co-CEO of the bank's leasing arm Lesha Aviation Services, called Emirates “a long-standing and valued partner.”
“Completing the sale of the two aircraft marks an important milestone, and the phased transfer of the remaining four underscores both the strength of our relationship with the airline and our continued focus on delivering well-structured, value-accretive transactions for our investors,” Skirrow said.
The A380s come from the portfolio of Amedeo Air Four Plus (AA4+), which Lesha Bank acquired in June 2026. The bank bought 100% of the aircraft leasing company through LAC 10, a newly incorporated wholly owned subsidiary of the bank.
AA4+’s portfolio also comprises two Boeing 777-300ERs and four Airbus A350-900s, all under long-term lease to Emirates or Thai Airways.
As of Nov. 11, Fleet Discovery shows Emirates has 85 A380s in service, 15 parked and 15 in storage.
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